Worms are a serious primary parasite that weaken the bird and also increase vulnerability to other secondary diseases such as canker and respiratory infection. They can lead to a delay in laying, reduced growth rate, and delayed weaning and poor food conversion. Worms are common and must be controlled in both the breeding and racing flocks because they weaken the bird nutritionally. Although the correct balance of feeds may be fed and eaten, the bowel of a bird with worms is unable to absorb the nutrients into its system.. Both the racing and breeding pigeons with worms become susceptible to "Respiratory", Canker, Enteritis and especially fungal diseases. The racing bird cannot perform with worms and the breeding bird cannot rear babies successfully.
The racing pigeon with worms cannot race nor breed successfully. The three most common intestinal worms are roundworm, hairworm and tapeworm.
It should be remembered that the life cycle for many worms can be just 3-4 weeks and so a single worming before breeding (or racing) will improve things for that period of time only. It is therefore best to treat twice at a three week interval. A thorough clean of the loft should be undertaken after each worming.
Symptoms
Loss of weight
Poor feathers
Anaemia
Fatigue after exercise
Prevention - Clean, sanitary lofts are most beneficial to keeping worms in check, but as pigeons often mingle with numerous other birds, a bird can become infested through ingestion of worm eggs from the basket or through contact with stray pigeons. Therefore, it is advisable to develop a preventative worming program in which all birds are wormed at least twice a year.
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